Congress harps on PMAY ‘scam’ to woo voters

By Express News Service

JAGATSINGHPUR: Alleged irregularities in development of bathrooms below Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) have turn out to be a serious ballot plank in Jagatsinghpur municipality election with opposition Congress raking up the difficulty to woo voters throughout campaigning and switch the tables towards the BJD. 

Under the PMAY-U scheme, Rs 20,000 is sanctioned to every beneficiary to make sure necessary development of bathrooms as a part of their housing plan. However, reviews of beneficiaries misusing the funds in connivance with municipality officers have come to the fore. Some of them, sources mentioned, will not be setting up bathrooms however claiming funds by getting their bathrooms tagged in identify of different beneficiaries who’ve accomplished their development. 

That’s not all. Many declare that they’re disadvantaged of bathrooms because the official information present final installment of PMAY funds have been sanctioned to different beneficiaries of their identify. In 2019, throughout a survey of 20 instances, seven such instances have been unearthed. The following yr, 12 extra instances got here to mild  within the municipality the place beneficiaries reportedly manipulated geo-tagging of bathrooms and nonetheless claimed the funds by growing nexus with surveyors and subject degree knowledge collectors.

As the fraud got here to mild final yr, names of many beneficiaries together with bona fide ones ones have been reportedly struck off from the PMAY listing inflicting resentment amongst real ones.

Beneficiaries like Kuna Mallick (ward 14), Kanhu Bisoi (ward13), Basanti Das(ward 15) and Agadhu Behera (ward 12) mentioned, they’re unable to assemble bathrooms below the scheme as funds of their identify have been sanctioned to different individuals. Making comparable allegations, Rabindra Manna from ward 14 and Ramesh Biswal from ward 16 mentioned, “We are poor and living in a polythene-roofed hut as our names were struck off from the housing scheme without any prior notice. We will give a befitting reply to the BJD in the coming elections.”

Congress chairperson candidate Archana Singh mentioned the celebration has intensified campaigning and is elevating points like corruption in authorities welfare schemes. Exuding confidence, former chairperson of the municipality and Congress chief Biplab Chaudhury mentioned, “the party is confident of getting good number of seats as we are highlighting issues like corruption in flagship schemes like housing and other developmental works of the government.”

On the opposite hand, BJD councillor candidate of ward 14, Sarat Chandra Sethy admitting to the irregularities, mentioned, “I am aware of the housing issues. If I win, all these issues will be addressed at the earliest.”

Executive officer (EO) of Jagatsinghpur Municipality Ashok Kumar Karna was not out there for his feedback.